grand
gb/ɡɹˈænd/ us/ɡɹˈænd/
A2
English
~ 2600
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
Impressive or magnificent
Very big and beautiful or important in a way that makes people notice.
Usage pattern:
[something] is grand
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'grand' with 'big'. 'Grand' also implies style or impressiveness, not just size.
Synonyms
magnificent (Suggests beauty and impressiveness, often with admiration.)
Antonyms
ordinary (Lacking special size, style, or impressiveness.)
Collocations
grand building
|grand design
|grand entrance
|grand hotel
Themes
appearance
|evaluation
|architecture
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The hotel lobby was grand, with marble floors and a crystal chandelier.
- They entered the grand hall for the ceremony.
- The palace has a grand staircase leading to the ballroom.
Learner examples
- The house is very grand.
- We walked into a grand room.
- The park has a grand gate.
adjective
informal
A2
property
2
Very good; excellent
Very nice or very good.
Usage pattern:
That's grand
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this usage is more common in Irish or British English than in American English.
Synonyms
great (Common in informal speech for something good or enjoyable.)
Antonyms
terrible (Describes something very bad or unpleasant.)
Collocations
sounds grand
|grand idea
Themes
evaluation
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- It would be grand to see you again.
- We had a grand time at the party.
- Your plan sounds grand to me.
Learner examples
- This cake is grand.
- We had a grand day at the beach.
- That is a grand idea.
Noun
informal
B1
quantity
3
One thousand dollars (or other currency)
One thousand dollars or pounds.
Usage pattern:
[number] grand
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'grand' here means 'great' instead of a money amount.
Synonyms
thousand bucks (Very informal American English equivalent.)
Antonyms
penny (A very small amount of money.)
Collocations
costs five grand
|earn ten grand
Themes
money
|finance
Examples
- The car cost me twenty grand.
- He earns fifty grand a year.
- They won a hundred grand in the lottery.
Learner examples
- The phone cost one grand.
- He won ten grand in a game.
- She makes forty grand each year.
adjective
B2
property
4
Ambitious or large-scale
Big and important in plan or goal.
Usage pattern:
grand [plan/project/design]
Synonyms
ambitious (Suggests aiming for big or impressive goals.)
Antonyms
modest (Limited in scope or ambition.)
Collocations
grand scheme
|grand plan
Themes
planning
|ambition
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They announced a grand plan to rebuild the city.
- Her novel is part of a grand design covering centuries of history.
- The company has grand ambitions for expansion.
Learner examples
- He has a grand plan for the school.
- They have a grand idea for the park.
- We made a grand plan for the trip.
adjective
B2
property
5
Dignified and impressive in manner
Looking or acting in an important and serious way.
Usage pattern:
[someone] looks/feels grand
Synonyms
majestic (Suggests noble dignity and impressiveness.)
Antonyms
humble (Simple and modest without showiness.)
Collocations
grand manner
Themes
personality
|appearance
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She swept into the room with a grand air.
- He gave a speech in a grand manner.
- The old professor had a grand presence.
Learner examples
- She looks very grand today.
- He walked in with a grand style.
- The teacher has a grand voice.
Grammar
Dictionary form
grand
IPA
GB/ɡɹˈænd/
US/ɡɹˈænd/
Syllables & stress
grand (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (grand)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: grand
- Comparative: grander
- Superlative: grandest
Noun
- Base: grand
- Plural: grand, grands
Word family
Forms
grands
noun
grander
adjective
grandest
adjective
Core family
grandly
adverb
grandeur
noun C1
Related words
grandiose
adjective
Advanced or less common
grandiosity
noun
Expressions
grand finale
1/ɡɹˈænd fənˈæli/
fixed phrase
Final exciting part of event/performance
The last and most exciting part of an event or show.
Examples
- Fireworks lit up the sky during the concert's grand finale.
- The play's grand finale had the audience on their feet.
grand opening
1/ɡɹˈænd ˈoʊpənɪŋ/
fixed phrase
First official opening event
The first day a business or event is open to the public, often with celebration.
Examples
- The store's grand opening is this Saturday.
- They offered discounts during the grand opening.
grand opening
1/ɡɹˈænd ˈoʊpənɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Celebratory first opening
a celebration when a new place first opens
Examples
- The gym is offering free classes for its grand opening.
- Hundreds of people came to the store's grand opening.
- They planned a grand opening after months of construction.
grand total
1/ɡɹˈænd tˈoʊtəl/
fixed phrase
Final total amount
The final number after you add everything together.
Examples
- The repairs came to a grand total of $500.
- We raised a grand total of 200 votes.
the grand scheme of things
1/ðə ɡɹˈænd skˈim əv θˈɪŋz/
idiom
Overall perspective or context
When you think about everything together, especially over time, not just one small part.
Examples
- In the grand scheme of things, this problem isn't so big.
- Their argument seems small in the grand scheme of things.